LOS ANGELES – Josue De Paula's plans for October originally included a trip back home and three weeks off to spend time with family before picking up his offseason training regimen. That was until he got a call from Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts a few days ago.
Instead, the 21-year-old rookie will spend the month on the Dodgers' postseason roster, waiting in the wings for when Roberts calls his number.
"I was shocked. I was happy," De Paula said. "There was a lot of emotions going on at the same time. A lot of thoughts going into it, like envisioning how this is going to be. I'm just going along for the ride and see how everything comes to me."
De Paula's role will be primarily as a lefty bat off the bench, and Roberts has mentioned
there aren't many guys in his lineup that he'll pinch-hit for, so his opportunities will be limited as the Dodgers attempt to make history in their push for a third consecutive World Series championship.
It's not a position he's used to; De Paula admits he's only been a pinch hitter once or twice in his entire minor league career, the most recent of which was in 2024 with High-A Great Lakes. He pinch-hit once in his first big league series on the road in Cincinnati and recalls liking the adrenaline that came with it. To build on that, De Paula has been leaning on the vets in the clubhouse to try and keep everything as close to his normal routine as possible despite the unfamiliar role.
Still, the organization's co-minor league player of the year made such an impression on both Roberts and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman in his first 11 big league games in September that they have full trust in De Paula to be their "bullet off the bench" in big situations. If needed, they won't hesitate to go to him.
"To have somebody like that, those two people to have so much confidence in me, it just kind of gives me extra confidence. Obviously I feel like I have a lot of confidence in myself to go out there and handle business, but to have those guys backing me, it's like, 'Oh, yeah, let's get it started,'" De Paula told USA TODAY Sports. "'Let's fight.'"
His poise at the plate and calm demeanor both in the box and with the media is balanced out by the energy De Paula brings out once he does square up a ball or draw a walk. The utter joy with which he approaches his game made every at-bat must-watch viewing over the roughly two-week span he filled in for an injured Shohei Ohtani.
Not that he planned to become a fan favorite; it's just who De Paula is. And it makes him contagious.
"At the end of the day this is a game," he said. "And I just try to make sure everybody's having fun while we're doing it. Why not kick butt and have fun at the same time, you know what I'm saying?"
Playing time is going to be scarce, so De Paula's using the time to his advantage. He's worked with Roberts on shagging flyballs, he's taken grounders from third base coach Dino Ebel, and he's picking the brain of six-time Gold Glove outfielder Mookie Betts.
Last October, De Paula was watching the Dodgers repeat from Miami. This time, he's in the dugout at Dodger Stadium, soaking up every moment he can as he waits for his postseason moment.
"I just feel like you can't replicate it anywhere else," he said. "Seeing it on TV and being here is two different worlds."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Josue De Paula embracing new Dodgers role, awaits playoff moment as bench bat
